Registered Charity Number 1146533 2025 Annual Reports Grimsby Baptist Church 246-248 Laceby Rd Grimsby DN34 5DW
Trustees Pastor- Jason Griffiths `Assistant Pastor- Matthew Cottingham Annang Asumang Jeremy Bass Colin Lamb Stephen Tibberts Rachel Cook Jonathan Hulland Ian Jones Rachel Morton (from September 2025) Philip Lawson (from September 2025) Kevin Still (from September 2025) Andy Willett
Secretary--Rachel Cook Treasurer—Charles Hazle (to Dec 31[st] 2025)
Co-Operative Bank The Financial years runs Jan 1[st] —Dec 31[st] Independent Examiner RNS Accountants
Other Officers
Designated Person Safeguarding Andy Willett Authorised Person—John Wilson
All correspondence to secretary@grimsbybaptistchurch.co.uk
Grimsby Baptist Church
Vision Statement
Vision
“To make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded” Matthew 28 v 19-20
Mission
To glorify God and
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To introduce people to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour
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To respond to Him by living lives that please God
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To witness to others of God’s love
We see three requisites for this vision
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Worship and prayer that lifts us into the presence of God
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Teaching of God’s word and its application to our lives must be central
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There must be love shown by all and to all throughout the fellowship
We believe these requisites will produce growth in response to our listening to God.
Logo
To know Jesus and make Him known.
Registered Charity 1146533
Grimsby Baptist Church
Annual Church Meeting 2026
Wednesday 25[th] February 7:30pm
Chairman Jason Griffiths
Agenda
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Opening Devotions
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Minutes of 26[th] November 2025
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Appointment of Scrutineers and Re-election of Deacon
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Fellowship News
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Membership Applications
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Report of Senegal Visit
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GBC Website and WhatsApp Community
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Grief and Bereavement Team
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Pastors’ and Elders’ Annual Report
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The Secretary’s Report
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The Membership Report
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Presentation of 2025 Accounts
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The Independent Examiner’s Report
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Organisations’ Reports : Tots GB and Rooted
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Appointment of Officers 2026
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Reading of Policy Statement on Children, Young People and the Church
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Diary Dates
Pastors and Elders report 2026
Jason Griffiths
The church has continued to grow over the last year. We have seen the joy of people being baptised and people coming into membership; this is a real blessing, and we thank God for it.
Matthew started as Assistant Pastor on 1[st] May and he has been a real encouragement. Jason and Matthew have started working together in the GBC building at different times of the week, which means they are available for people to pop in, and are also able to meet with people there. Please let them know if you want to pop in and meet them for a coffee!
As Elders, we meet on the first Monday of the month for a prayer meeting, and then again during the month for business and also for a bimonthly meeting with the whole leadership team meeting. In our devotions we have looked at the Psalms of Ascent that we preached through in the summer. Annang is currently going through ministry in Colossians with us.
During the morning services we have looked at a series in Exodus, another in Philippians, a Big Questions series seeking to help people think through big questions facing Christians today, and another series looking at the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5. We started Colossians after looking at our verse for the year John 11:25. “Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”. In addition to this, Stephen Tibberts led an afternoon series on ‘Digging Deeper into God’s Word’. All have been well received, and it is good to hear how people have been encouraged by the word of God as it is opened, and to see people growing in their faith in the Lord Jesus.
As Elders, we are encouraged by all the hard work undertaken by many people who give their time to make sure the different ministries continue at GBC. This is a hard-working church with the gospel at the centre. We have had different pastoral issues throughout the year, and a number of saints went to be with the Lord, and again we are thankful for those who have rallied round to help and support those struggling and grieving.
With the support of the leadership and the church as a whole Jason was able to go to Senegal in January with Steve and Moira Poulson and appreciated the opportunity to see what the Lord is doing over there, alongside witnessing Steve, Moira and Anna’s engagement with believers there and seeking to encourage them with the word of God and running the guest house in Dakar.
As we look forward, we are looking to the Lord’s leading as we deal with a building that is too small. We are excited at what God will do through us as we continue to look to him and as we seek his glory.
Assistant Pastor’s Report Matthew Cottingham
I can’t quite believe that I have been Jason’s assistant for nearly 10 months!
I am continually thankful to God for the blessing it is to observe and learn from someone with such a gospel centred and shepherding heart in the countless conversations, interactions and meetings we have had. Of course this isn’t just Jason, there are many people I have had the privilege of building closer relationships with and so see the sacrificial pastoral care that takes place so much within the church.
I am conscious that in becoming an assistant in training, Jason is investing a lot of time and energy developing me into a pastor that will last for the long haul. Regularly reminding me of the fundamental and most important aspects of pastoring: preaching and teaching, prayer and care for the church.
During the last 10 months I have had the privilege of developing my preaching skills, with regular times of constructive feedback and guidance from the leadership team. I have also had opportunity to learn how to conduct school assemblies with Jason and Margaret. I’ve spent time serving the young people in Junior Church and Rooted as well as discipling and encouraging others into children’s and young people’s ministries. I am hugely thankful for the many young people that we have at GBC and the many hours that different people volunteer in their time to evangelise, teach and disciple each one.
Perhaps the greatest blessing has been getting to know many different people through pastoral visitation, listening, encouraging and praying for them in their relationship with Jesus, whatever stage they are at.
And yet, even with a full-time pastor and assistant pastor, it is evident in the church of our size how difficult it is to know and care for people well, especially with so many new people coming through our doors.
I am looking forward to 2026 as we prayerfully seeking God’s guidance for how to respond to the growth we are experiencing.
Secretary’s Report
Rachel Cook
2025 at GBC has been a year of continuing blessings as we serve God together as His church here in Grimsby. Despite many seeing our town as somewhat of a backwater we know that God has put us here for a purpose and we must continue to seek His guidance and will for this church and this town. We are thankful to see new faces come into our building each week but there are still so many who need to be reached with the news of the gospel.
In a growing membership it becomes easy for those new or in need to go unnoticed and we are thankful for our pastoral care team, whilst also acknowledging that caring for one another is a ministry into which we all must invest. Plans are also in progress for a new team who will forge and maintain connections with those new to the fellowship.
We give thanks to God for the lives of two longstanding members who are greatly missed each for their own attributes. Alan Tye for his quiet, loyal servant heart and Colin Templeman for his no holes barred expression of gospel truths and that loud Hallelujah at the end of a rousing hymn. We praise God too for the life of Lorenzina and her example of unfaltering faith throughout arduous treatment.
Perhaps the greatest change during the last year has been the appointment of an assistant pastor to the leadership team and we give thanks and praise for God’s guidance and direction throughout this process and also for His provision of the needed finance. It has been a joy to watch Matthew settle into his role and the benefits of him serving in this way are evident to all. He has shown a willingness and capability in taking the reins where needed, stepping up to preach, to visit and to lead in many ways. He has also though remained willing to serve, making the tea, washing up and of course, as some of you will know, he loves a trip to the tip! We must continue to pray for him and Diana as they explore this new chapter of God’s plan for their lives.
Both branches of the leadership team are functioning well and since the formation of two teams, I believe have become more effective, another reason for praise and thanksgiving. The division has enabled the elders to concentrate on preaching, teaching and pastoral care whilst the deacons have been able to plan and carry out many of the more practical needs of the church. We continue to meet as a combined team bi-monthly to pray and plan together and to ensure cohesion between the two groups.
We must also record our formal thanks to Charles Hazle who has served as treasurer, amongst other roles, with loyalty and integrity for many
years. It has been a privilege to serve alongside him and to learn from his wisdom along the way. We wish him well in his retirement from the leadership and pray that God will continue to bless him and Margaret as they worship and fellowship with us.
So there is so much to be thankful for but we should never be content to become static. Lets seek together to discover God’s plans for us, to build, plant or stay, to employ further staff or to develop new ministries. We are so privileged to be part of His church so let’s continue to praise, worship and serve Him as we both know Him, and seek to make Him known.
Membership Secretary Report
| Membership Secretary Report | Membership Secretary Report | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership 01.01.2025 | 14 7 |
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| Received into membership | ||
| By Baptism Calum Dinsdale, Jess Keightley, J&E Botterill |
4 | |
| Bytransfer from other churches: | ||
| On profession of faith: Gaby Ward, Isaac and Zara Johns, John Tibberts, Bob Abbott, Ross and Ruth Miller, Jenny Saunders |
8 | |
| Total | 12 | |
| Loss from membership | ||
| Deceased: Alan Tye, Lorenzina Auckland, Colin Templeman |
3 | |
| Bytransfer: | ||
| To other fellowships or mission feld, A and G Gray |
2 | |
| By resignation: | ||
| Byrevision of membershiproll: | 8 | |
| Total | 13 | |
| Net Change | -1 |
14 6
Membership on 31.12.2025
Trustees Report 2025 Rachel Cook (secretary).
We have sought to serve the Lord and to minister to our members, congregation and the community, and there has been continuity of programme and purpose from previous years. We have appointed a full time assistant pastor to our leadership team.
Regular public worship, prayer, Bible study, preaching and teaching;
Our core activities have been public worship, preaching, teaching and Bible study in our services, Junior Church, youth groups and Life Groups. Prayer meetings are facilitated in person, and via Zoom each month. We continue to produce our recorded ’in person’ services on our You Tube channel. We have facilitated attendance for worship at the building throughout the year. Our pastor and preachers have completed series on Exodus, Philippians, Big Questions and the Fruits of the Spirit, ending this one in Advent. Life groups have followed the teaching content from the sermons..
Baptism, as defned in the Union’s Declaration of Principle;
We have witnessed 6 people declare their faith in Christ by being baptised..
The Communion of the Lord’s Supper which shall normally be observed at least once a month;
We have held monthly communion at both morning services throughout the year aa well as monthly at evening prayer meetings. Members of the leadership team have conducted communion services in homes for those of our congregation who are housebound or unable to attend because of
illness/isolation. We have received 10 people into church membership at these services.
Evangelism and mission, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally
Our schools worker continues, in semi retirement to lead assemblies, lessons and workshops in local primary schools on a voluntary basis. The pastor and assistant pastor also visit local schools. Our puppet team have visited care homes, schools, nurseries, additional needs groups and the local hospice in addition to facilitating events at other churches. As part of our outreach, we facilitated Community Fun Day during the summer. Outreach and support was funded by £5002 of our budget. We have continued Fun Family Friday every fortnight, which provides a free hot meal, teaching and socialisation for families with children. This is funded from the church youth budget. We provide financial support for 5 members of New Tribes Mission.
The teaching, encouragement, welcome and inclusion of young people .
We include and involve young people in our services by having a 10-15minute slot in the morning services particularly applicable to young people and this also forms part of our You Tube services. Junior church has also been facilitated each week. A staffed creche runs during the 11am morning service. The Rooted bible study and social events group for school years 7-13 meets on Sunday evenings. The Puppet team have continued regular meetings. On week days there are 2 organisations catering for young people “Ignite” (years 11-16); and Fun Family Friday for families with children of any age. We have adopted and regularly commit to our Safeguarding Policy. Youth activities are funded by the church and have used £2753 of our budget.
Nurture and growth of Christian disciples
We have endeavoured to nurture young Christians with 1-to-1 nurturing. We also run Baptismal classes and Life Groups to encourage the nurturing and growth of Christian disciples. Life groups have met regularly during the year as well as the monthly Wednesday Women group and Men’s Breakfast. All these groups offer discipleship and study for growth. We offer a 6 week Christianity Explored course for those seeking to know more about the Christian faith.
Education and training for Christian and community service
We encourage Christian and community service and offer education and training via other organisations.
Giving and encouraging pastoral care;
We have sought to give and to encourage pastoral care for all those who attend the church and those who are not members. Deacons are elected as people with, amongst other things, “a pastoral heart” but this responsibility is shared across the church, the pastoral care team. Life Groups also play a key role in pastoral care.
Supporting and encouraging charitable social action in the United Kingdom and abroad
We have supported and encouraged charitable action in the United Kingdom; and some members of the church are involved in, Grimsby Shoeboxes as well as Good News for Everyone, LIVES, SASRA and other charitable work. The puppet team donated proceeds from their Christmas events to the charity CARE.. We facilitate the collection and delivery of food donations to a ;local foodbank..
We run a weekly parent & child afternoon gathering for friendship and support called TOTS GB. Weekly attendance at this group continues to be well attended. This is open to both the church and the community. This group is funded by the youth budget
We run a group called CAMEO, aimed at senior citizens, which promotes fellowship and freedom from loneliness. This group is funded by the church.
We maintain a community defibrillator at our premises. This is registered with the local network.
Encouraging relationships with and supporting Baptists and other Christians.
We have supported Baptists and other Christians in a variety of ways. We have a link with the Baptist Missionary Society and have supported students and staff of the New Tribes Mission College. £20,426 of our income was given to the Baptist Home Mission Fund, the Baptist Missionary Society and to Christian workers in long and short term mission both locally, regionally and abroad.
Church Ofcers 2026
*new appointment
Jason Griffiths
Pastor
Assistant Pastor Secretary Church Treasurer Trustees/Elders & Deacons
Youth Council Children’s Co-ordinator Designated Person Safeguarding Deputy Safeguarding Officer DBS Co-ordinator Pastoral Care Co-ordinator Life Group Co-ordinators Matthew Cottingham* Membership Secretary Authorised Person
Matthew Cottingham Rachel Cook Kevin Still*
Jason Griffths, Matthew Cottingham, Annang Asumang, Jeremy Bass, Rachel Cook, Jonathan Hulland, Colin Lamb, Philip Lawson, Ian Jones, Rachel Morton, Kevin Still, Stephen Tibberts, Andy Willett
Youth leaders ex officio Margaret Deller Andy Willett Catriona Griffiths Diana Cottingham Colin Lamb Jason Griffiths and
Rachel Cook John Wilson
Sunday Worship
9.15 Music Co Ordinator Worship Teams Co-ordinator Platform Manager
Door Steward Co-ordinator
Willem Zietsman Melvin Cockerill Duty Deacon
Sandra Haigh
PA Ministry Co-ordinator Proclaim Co-ordinator Tea/Coffee Rota Tea/Coffee and Milk Supplies Flower Team
Worship Team
C. Welsh, Cottingham
Jude Bass Denise Johnson Denise Johnson & Jo Parkin
Organisations
Junior Church Co-ordinator Connections Tots GB Ignite Rooted Tibberts* Puppet Power Fun Family Friday C.A.M.E.O Wednesday Women Men’s Prayer Breakfast
Liam & Ellen Cox Jacob Eyres Avril Gulliver, Lynn Moore Bob Free Jo Smedley, M Cottingham, J&J
Ian Jones
Ian Jones & Cam Welsh John & Anne Wilson Jude Bass, R Cook, Tony Snowdon
GRIMSBY BAPTIST CHURCH
INCOME & EXPENDITURE 1 JANUARY 2025 TO 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Income Notes Collections HM Revenue & Customs 96 Laceby Road Rent Donations Fun Day Sundry A SASRA Interest Total Income Expenditure Ministry:Stipend/NIC/Pension Travel Costs B Visiting speakers 96 Laceby Road Improvements Church premises Cleaning Insurance Maintenance C Gas Electricity Water Telephone/BB Streaming Services Stationery/Publicity Training aids/books Furniture/equipment D Licences/Subscriptions Conferences/courses Refreshments/Wine Outreach Sundries E Missions Christian workers Community support F Youth Council Cameo Total expenditure Operating Surplus/Deficit Balance B/Fwd Year End Balance |
2025 126425.05 18056.26 3960.00 47013.25 1481.83 1890.24 197.97 1710.13 200734.73 68036.93 2688.27 1279.35 2725.00 10032 5744.01 3542.23 17607.29 1283.07 5606.57 783.11 964.22 1763.86 925.08 415.18 10862.21 3239.52 1345.16 1398.90 5002.91 2313.07 8284.86 12142.36 1036.49 2796.18 247.89 172065.69 28669.04 41840.46 70509.50 |
2024 105114 17760 2340 3825 1235 519 289 1361 132444 44018 1090 732 2774 5521 3450 8076 1340 5640 509 743 2958 867 637 3806 2740 1185 1814 4621 4038 9000 16911 1512 2955 135 127072 5372 36468 41840 |
2023 94632 13502 1440 8710 2666 2081 0 1198 |
2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 124229 42915 142 1011 10653 5033 3376 4060 1494 6447 449 714 2840 982 284 585 2909 425 1377 4046 2002 9000 19667 450 3291 127 |
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| 124279 -50 36518 |
||||
| 36468 |
Page 1/4
GRIMSBY BAPTIST CHURCH
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
| FIXED ASSETS Land & buildings at Laceby Road (sum insured) Contents (sum insured) 96 Laceby Road Grimsby (PV: 07.19) CURRENT ASSETS General Fund Operating Reserve Property Reserve 96 Laceby Road Reserve Represented by:- Co-operative Bank plc Community Direct Plus Account Co-operative Bank plc Business Select Instant Access Account COIF Charities Deposit Fund C03072312-001 COIF Charities Deposit Fund C03072313-001 COIF Charities Deposit Fund C03072314-001 Average weekly giving 2025 2024 |
2025:£p 3,027,054 148,264 115,000 15,209.50 25,000.00 24,000.00 6,300.00 70,509.50 -400.36 6,082.43 60,108.30 128.06 4,591.07 70,509.50 2,430.73 2,021.43 |
2024:£p 2,938,881 143,945 115,000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Grimsby Baptist Church
Notes to the Accounts Year Ending 31 December 2025
Income
| ADonations Towards Puppet Power Christmas Post IMO Robert Smith IMO Alan Tye General donations Use of Premises BSundry Income Men's Breakfast Insurance claim - hedge at 96 Other items |
£p 80.00 85.00 400.00 163.25 45625.00 660.00 |
|---|---|
| 47013.25 | |
| 652.50 1161.00 76.74 |
|
| 1890.24 |
Page 2/4
Expenditure
C Licences/Subscriptions
| Baptist Union (150 members @£5.60 Evangelical Alliance SASRA Information Commissioner GDPR Ofcom - Radio Microphone Licence Planning Centre - Software CCLi D Outreach |
840.00 200.00 250.00 47.00 135.00 334.63 1432.89 |
|---|---|
| 3239.52 | |
| Fun Family Friday TOTS GB Christianity Explored/321 Course Fun Day Puppet Power Christmas Event Colin Elliot Concert - 2026 Deposit Schools Ministry |
1786.73 291.70 528.24 1119.06 40.86 712.82 523.50 |
|---|---|
| 5002.91 |
E Sundries
| Bank charges Credit Card Machine fixed charges Website Maintenance Kitchen supplies Men's Breakfast Costs Cam Welsh - Website work G & A Gray - Farewell gift C J Hazle - Reitement gift Other Items |
9.19 108.00 144.00 630.93 155.93 500.00 200.00 200.00 365.02 |
|---|---|
| 2313.07 |
Grimsby Baptist Church
Credit Card Machine Usage 1 January to 31 December 2025
| Number of Transactions 35 |
Number of £p Transaction Cards Used Gifts Fees 18 597.54 10.56 |
Monthly Charge £p |
|---|---|---|
144.00 |
NB: Page 4/4 is the Independent Examiner's Report which is not yet available as at 6 January 2025
Page 3/4
CHARITY mMMIS510N FOR WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustsesl members of Gftmsby Bapb"st ChJrch On a¢¢ountsforth8 r anded 31 December225 Charity no Irf any) 114&fj33 S•t out on pages 1 to3 A$ Iha tharitys tsustee$, you ar8 responsible fortho preparation of the accounts in accordance 7th the r8quirernents of the Chariti8s Act 2011 fthe Acri. R•sponsibllltlo5 and basrs rf report I repjrt in rèspect of my examination of Trus¥$ a¢oJunis carried out undar section 145 ofthe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followad all the app1Kab Directons giv8n by the Charity Ccénmisscn und•r $a¢tK 145lSllbl of th8 AGL Independwrt I have compbted my examination. I confirm Ihat no rnaterial matters have •x•mlnerfs statgrn8nt eome to my 4ttention in conn8cbon with Ihe examinaton lch give$ mè ¢ause to b8lie¥e that in. any material r8specL' tt)e acmwtng recofds werè not kept in accordance 1h sacbon 120 of Iha Charities Act". or th• aUftts did not accotd the accnting r¢cords.' or the accounts not crffiply wth the appI£ble Tequirements coneeming the fomi 8nd eorrt8nl of ac¢ourt$ sèt out tn tlre Charities IAc£ount5 and Reports) R8guLqtKX15 2008 0tt)erlhan any reqUirent that lh8 accDLmts give a trje and fairf viow vthi¢h 1$ nrt a m8tt8r considered as part of an IderK1ent ex8rnination. I have no con¢ems and have com¥ ac¥o$s no 0th8r matters in cwn8ction ith the examAiats"on to whth attention should b8 drawn in this report in orderto enab a pn)P8r wd8rthdllig ofth8 accoLmts to be rnathed. Slgned: OL )Z Name- Relevant prof1•nal qualMlcation(sl or body Irf anyl- Fccp¢ Addr•s8.' The Poplars Bridge Str88t Brigg North tiwlnshire DN20 8NQ Page 414